Yep, I just mentioned the 'S' word. Aren't I naughty! Sex is not a topic that we should be afraid to talk about or brush under the carpet. There is no taboo in Islam.

We live in a society where Britain has one of the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Europe and an extremely high abortion rate amongst teenage girls. And believe it or not that includes Muslim girls as well.

'Really?' I hear you say.

I present a talk show in a local radio station in Ramadan, and in one show last year a studio guest mentioned that the local priest who visits the abortion clinic stated that the majority of girls who attend to have an abortion at the clinic are Muslim girls who became pregnant by their Muslim boyfriends.

Now what makes the likes of Einstein, Aristotle, Socrates and Plato special? Why does history remember Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Gandhi? What was so great about Muhammad Ali, Pele, Maradona and Imran Khan?

It was down to one thing. TALENT.

It's talent that makes you a great thinker and philosopher. It's talent that makes you a revolutionary leader and great orator. It's talent that makes you the greatest footballer or boxer that every youngster looks up to.

Some would say we're treated as 2nd class citizens. We're demonised by the media. There are calls for the Niqab to be banned. All Muslims are seen as potential terrorists. Others would add that Muslims have to prove they are not the 'enemy within'. Some would even go as far as saying that Muslims have to prove they are 'British first, Muslims second'.

The above doesn't paint a pretty picture now does it?

On the flip side I suppose that's how most Muslims are, or can be expected to be, treated in most non-Muslim countries in the current environment, especially post 9/11, 7/7 and the rise of the suicide bomb worldwide.

The Challenges

Now apart from the dodgy weather let’s see what the real challenges are for British Muslims living in the UK...

Islamophobia

Now if you had a massive migraine and went to your GP and he gave you foot cream for the cure you’d probably think he's either lost the plot or a dodgy geezer who's really a plumber but only got the job coz his dad owns the surgery!

"Don't go to that mosque, they're Wahabbi”. “I don't give Salaam to Deobandis”. “You can’t pray behind Brelwis”. “Sufis are dodgy man!” “Those Salafis insult the Prophet (pbuh)!” “They're all Bid'ati, they're all going to hell”. “That group is Mushrik, stay away from them”. “Shias are all Kafir!”

By Sajid Iqbal

Let me ask you something¦ If someone insulted your mum or dad, how would you react? 'I'll kick his head in' is what you will probably say, yeah? If someone insulted your sister, brother, husband or wife what then? You'll probably react with anger, flex your muscles and may be use every swear word you can think of, am I right? We all know that’s not the best way to behave, but sometimes when someone goes too far you simply lose the plot, innit?

By Sajid Iqbal

You're sat on the bus with your mates. You're having a wicked meal at a top restaurant with your work colleagues. You're walking down a busy road with your partner. You're attending a football match with your brothers. You're on the plane with your parents. Then a huge BANG! A massive explosion. Bodies are flying everywhere. Hundreds dead and injured. Soon it's reported it was a suicide bomb. Nobody knows why. Everyone questions what have the victims done to deserve this? Nothing makes sense. How can anyone do this? Hours later a Muslim organisation takes responsibility for the suicide attack.

How do you feel now? How do you view religions now? What are your feelings towards Muslims now? What do you think of Islam now?

By Sajid Iqbal

I was co-presenting a late night discussion show on my local Radio in the month of Ramadan this year, which I have been doing for quite a few years now. The topic was marriage, which is one of the most popular shows every year… I dunno why! However, every year, a small section of the listeners remind me of one massive ignorance and fault our Muslims communities have across the UK.

I am a father, a mother, a husband, a wife, a brother, a sister, a son and a daughter. I am a child, a teenager and an adult. I am a neighbour, team mate, work colleague and soul mate. I am a student, a graduate and a teacher. I am soap mad, a football fan, a food fanatic and a shopaholic. I am normal, special, ambitious, creative and fun.

So what am I? I am a Muslim.